Customer Reviews

Lifeline

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love Neal's work,the man is brilliant BUT,He missed it with this one.Neal should take a break and seek some new direction . I feel he's repeating himself badly with this cd.{I hate to say it}Neal is getting into a rut. He really needs to bring in an outside producer and some different musicians{especially in the drum area...sorry Mike you are great but your playing isn't "fresh" on this recording}This cd does have a few good moments, but, there's just too much familiar riffs and arrangments that won't allow me to give more than 2 stars.Neal,you're still a genius to me anyway...just try something new for your next one.

Does Neal Morse break new ground with his latest Christian prog-rock album? Maybe a little, but not in any significant way. That said, is it good? Is it worth your time and money? If you're a fan of Neal Morse or the symphonically retro brand of 21st-century prog-rock, I'd say certainly.

Lyrics: Neal loves him some Jee-zus, and that's what he sings about here. Frankly, the concepts of his last three solo albums have approached ideas of faith and Christianity from more interesting angles than the more straightforward worship going on on this album, but there are still some interesting ideas/metaphors and turns of phrase. (Full disclosure: As a practicing Christian myself, I am inherently more sympathetic to Neal's core message than perhaps the general public might be, so take the above with an appropriate grain of salt.)

The three highlights for me are the rockers. "Lifeline" starts out with the standard Neal Morse opening: several minutes of high-energy instrumental work, heavy on the synths and mellotron, with Mike Portnoy and Randy George (as usual) laying down one of the fattest-sounding rhythm sections in the business. The verse-chorus stuff in this song is solid, and the instrumental breaks are fabulous. "Leviathan"'s heavy, slightly funky sound is something new and interesting for Neal (the "maybe a little new ground" I referenced above. And the (apparently obligatory) epic, "So Many Roads", does showcase some fine examples of Neal's facility with thematic development. (Digression: I'd rather have obligatory epics than obligatory ballads, that bane of 1980s rock. ^_^)

The remaining four tracks are relatively straightforward pop/rock tunes and ballads, punched up nicely by the aforementioned Portnoy/George rhythm section. Of these songs, "The Way Home" and "Fly High" are the stronger tracks, with more interesting songcraft on display. "God's Love" and "Children of the Chosen" are rather more wet, being kinda generic overall. The fact that they're right next to each other (and, together, right before "So Many Roads") is perhaps the album's biggest weakness.

Overall, I don't think my opinion of "Lifeline" will ever rise to the level of passionate adoration I have for my favorite Neal Morse albums ("ONE" and "Sola Scriptura"), but I can see it turning up regularly in my listening, especially those three fine rockers.

First, let me say that I am one of Neal's biggest fans. I loved everything he's put out. That being said, this album is just "ok". Neal is getting VERY repetitious. I was able to predict his arrangements and melodies on most of the songs. Some of his riffs on this CD have been used before on previous CD's. One major problem is Mike Portnoy. Mike is one of the best rock drummers ever, but he's doing the same stuff over and over now. How many times does he have to do that alternating ride/china beat? Time for Neal to make a change in the drum department. Rod Morgenstein I think would be a good fit. Since Neal has already worked with him it's a possibility. Leviathan is the only song on this CD that I feel Neal branched out a little, though it still contains a riff previously used in Author of Confusion from the ONE album. The sax solo on So Many Roads is awesome also.

As predictable as this CD is though, it still blows away 99% of Christian music currently out there. Definitely still worth a purchase.

Considering all the work Neal has done thus far, it is difficult to review this album without a certain degree of criticism. I admire Mr. Morse's talent, as I do with Portnoy and George. In order to fairly assess this release, it must be compared to all previous work. Being a fan (which I definitely am) is no excuse for giving this release an overly favorable review.

Let me start with the good. This release is energetic, generally more upbeat than past releases, and continues the tradition of excellence in musicianship. With the exception of "Leviathan," this is a pleasant, enjoyable experience. There are some musically satisfying moments.

If you are planning to purchase this CD, I would recommend that you get the one with the bonus disc. The covers reveal the fun in the studio these guys have when they play together. They wouldn't be good radio releases, but, are in a way a personal glimpse into the chemistry/relationship of these friends as they "play" together.

NOTE: One of the things missed by other reviewers is the "hidden" track on the bonus disc - a funny song about a "Heavy-Metal, Long-haired, blue-bearded, Tattoed Jew." Hmmmm. I wonder who they are referring too????

Some of the weaknesses are a re-using of many musical pieces from other releases - one that seems to appear on EVERY album. Another is a lyrical deficiency. "Leviathan" being the best example of a song that seems pointless. Musically, it is somewhat Crimsonish. The rest of the lyrics seem to be typical and cliché'-ish.

To sum it all up, I still think this is a good Neal Morse disc for his fans. Probably, a better one for new fans to start with. This would have probably been the kind of release that should have followed "Testimony." I invite your comments/responses.

After playing this recording, I thought it was very well written and produced! Yes,this is alittle different then Spock's Beard and some other recordings that are on the store's shelf. Neal Morse really changed his life around and it can be heard throughout this recording. Mike Portnoy was much calmer and shows that he can control himself if he wants too. ( speaking language wise there on the bonus cd or cd # 2 )
Anyway,compared to the other reviews that state that Neal should take a break or try something different in his next album,it just shows me what this world is made up of! The lyrics in this recording should be the main concern over how it sounds or how one plays or even what draws a person to keep on listening!!
I give this recording 5 stars not because I enjoy Neal's writting and happen to be a drummer for over 30 years either. Neal loves God and He happens to play a big role in his life anymore! ( that's simply 'AWESOME' ) Give this recording a chance,if you get the one with 2 cd's - you will see that the guy's just had alittle fun while they were together on the 2nd disc - That's all -
Looking forward to the next album you have for us Neal!
God Bless!!

My introduction to the music of Neal Morse came when he was still the driving force behind Spock's Beard. At that time, he was one of the most gifted and versatile progressive rock musicians on the scene. Since going solo and shifting his focus from the secular to the spiritual, Morse has maintained his high musical standards but in doing so, has seemingly gotten lazy and kept his compositions within a predictable comfort zone.
Not counting DVDs, Lifeline is the fifth explicitly Christian album Morse has produced. His own personal journey to Christ is a compelling story, yes, but he has taken to flogging a dead horse. Long-time fans certainly are aware of where he stands and so many of us wonder how many times he needs to reiterate the story of his conversion. That quibble aside, at least he has been consistent in the proclamation of his faith.
With Lifeline, you get over an hour's worth of enjoyable Christian prog music that includes two major pieces in the best tradition of the genre that amount to two-thirds of the album's playing time. You'll note that many passages sound like they are nods to earlier compositions. You'll also notice Morse's habit of taking a phrase from a once-popular song and inserting it into one of his own songs. On this CD, that phrase comes from Woodstock.
I like the album well enough but deduct a star because on Lifeline, Morse fails to say anything new both musically and lyrically. That being said, any one of his Christian albums stand head and shoulders above most of the rest of what that genre has to offer. The CD comes housed in a standard jewel case and includes an attractive insert containing pertinent album information, lyrics, and lots of pictures.
I hope that Neal listens to his fans and gives them something more original the next time around. In the meantime, I am going to order the import of Lifeline that contains the bonus disc and give this one to a Christian friend who has never heard Morse.

Note: I have now acquired that import with the bonus disc, and since amazon will not allow another review of another version of the same product, I will tack my additional comments here: GET THE IMPORT!
The bonus disc contains several songs you won't want to miss: a marvelous, Beatlesque take on the Bee Gee's Lemons Never Forget, a Joe Cocker-like take on the Box Tops' The Letter, and a high-spirited and very heartfelt rendition of Elvis Costello's (What's So Funny Bout) Peace Love and Understanding. Additionally, there is another excellent piece of Christian prog with Set the Kingdom and for those who first sit through several minutes of silence, an amusing hidden song possibly entitled I'm A Heavy Metal Long-Haired Blue-Beard Tattooed Jew!
The import version comes with an expanded booklet but it sadly contains nothing about the songs on the second disc. Despite that, it makes sense to get this version as this raises the rating to 4 and a half stars.

Well...what can be said about LIFELINE? Neal Morse's newest release is a bright, melodic musical excursion that not only showcases Neal's brilliance as a musician and songwriter, but also contains some of his very best songs ever recorded. There's much to be said about his prior releases, and it was hard to imagine Neal topping the sheer grandiosity of `Question Mark'. In a way, he really doesn't. But LIFELINE takes listeners to a new place, one brighter, cleaner, and more melodic. Neal's familiar hallmarks are all over LIFELINE, but they're used in a way never before heard. LIFELINE could very well be Neal's crowning achievement, one that will give him the recognition he deserves.

The opening title track LIFELINE is a grand piece familiar in tone and structure to ONE'S opening track, The Creation. However, LIFELINE carries a better melody and production, offering a more fulfilling listening experience. The song is a journey of melodic rock and progressive timings, with a midpoint rock jam driven my Neal's heavy guitar riffs.

Way Home is the first of three AOR-type songs that are truly magical in every sense of the word. It's truly astounding that Neal continuously comes up with beautiful and unique melodies, on each and every release. But here, with Way Home, God's Love, and Children of the Chosen, we have a trio of AMAZING songs that could very easily delight any listener. Neal's music transcends genres, and these songs are proof of this. They are SO GOOD. Think of Way Home as a new June, and Children of the Chosen as new and improved Wind at my Back.

So Many Roads is this album's epic piece, calling upon Neal's lighter past epics, like Stranger in my Soul, or The Great Nothing. There's some great, melodic jams here, but nothing like the metal-esque ones found on Sola Scriptura. The songs on LIFELINE are not heavy. And four of the seven aren't even prog. They're just great songs that indicate Neal is still growing, as impossible as that may seem, given his past accomplishments. Listeners of his music are truly lucky to have him.

In a nutshell, LIFELINE may very well be Neal Morse's brightest star in the sky.

I admit, I am a long time fan of Mr. Morse, so my review might be biased by my 'anything-he-touches-is-gold' mentality, but here goes. Again we have the return of the drumming monster Mike Portnoy, as well as top notch musicians across the board as expected. Style wise, we find all of the prog-rock elements present as expected, so fans of Neal's past work should have little to no complaints here. While this release, to me, has a slightly more melodic feel overall than the previous (Sola Scriptura), it is still very consistent with the entire catalog and sound on his solo work. The Special Edition version has a second disc of six additional songs well worth the effort and funds to acquire it. (Review originally appeared in Heaven's Metal - www.hmmag.com/heavensmetal)

You know... I agree with you... but I find I play this disc all the time. I like every song on it and the bonus disc. It has all those things that Neal over does and it has all the lyrical subtly of a raging moose, but I groove on this disc every day and sing along with most of it. Even Leviathan. It's a hoot. So, yeah, it's all that, but for some reason I'm digging it more than Sola even. Take a chance with the bonus disc. You can then make your own mix with more rockin' secular songs intermixed with the songs from the main disc. This may make the overtly Christian lyrics a little more palatable.

I have always been a fan of Prog-Rock (Genesis, Kansas, Styx) lot's
of keyboards and blazing guitar work with lyrics that mean something.
Neal Morse is at the top of that list. Yes he is considered Christian
Rock, but I promise you'll never get bored with Neil. He know's what to
do to make his musical vision jump out and grab your ears.